Which statement about the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 is true?

• A. It restricted divorce to the very wealthy.
• B. It made divorce easier to access, particularly for women.
• C. It abolished divorce entirely.
• D. It required proof of incest for divorce.

Answer: (B)

The Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 created a civil divorce system, moving divorce proceedings from Church courts and private acts of Parliament to a new secular court. This change lowered barriers to obtaining a divorce, making the process more accessible to ordinary people and, importantly, to women who previously faced very limited options. By allowing either spouse to petition for divorce on fault grounds such as adultery and related conduct, and by removing the need for an expensive private Bill, the act broadened who could seek a divorce and how easily it could be pursued. So the statement that divorce became easier to access, particularly for women, best reflects the impact of the reform. It didn’t abolish divorce or restrict it to the wealthy, and incest was not the key ground introduced by this act.